Oiler assembly

ABSTRACT

An oiler assembly is disclosed for feeding a relatively precise and consistent lubrication. The assembly includes a supply of the lubricant and a flow line placing the supply in communication with the lubrication point. A metering valve is interposed in the flow line and generally comprises a body having an inlet and an outlet. The body further includes a bore having one end thereof in communication with the inlet and the other end thereof in communication with the outlet. A porous rod is disposed in the bore of the body. A sealing member is disposed in the bore to preclude the passage of lubricant from the inlet end to the outlet end of the bore except by passage through said porous rod. An impervious coat on the rod extending over at least a portion of the length of the rod determines the length of the flow path for the lubricant passing through the rod. The impervious coat may be a plastic sleeve, peelable to alter the length of oil travel and so provide adjustment of the feed rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an oiler assembly for the drop feeding of aliquid lubricant such as oils and soap compounds.

Needle valves are commonly employed in the drop feeding of liquidlubricants. For relatively fast feed rates, such valves are generallyquite adequate. At relatively slow feed rates, needle valves aregenerally not consistent due to silting and must usually be adjustedand/or replaced at relatively short intervals. In view of their extrasmall diameter, needle valves employed for extra-fine metering of liquidlubricant, and particularly where additives are present in thelubricant, are the most troublesome and erratic. It is generally anobject of this invention to provide an oiler assembly capable of dropfeeding a liquid lubricant with substantial consistency even atrelatively minute feed rates, even as low as one drop in five minutesand even less.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention contemplates an oiler assembly inclusive of a supply ofthe liquid lubricant and a flow line placing the supply in communicationwith the point of lubrication. A metering valve is interposed in theflow line and generally comprises body means having an inlet forreceiving the lubricant from the supply and an outlet for delivery ofthe lubricant. The body means further includes a bore intermediate theinlet and outlet. A porous rod is disposed in the bore of the bodymeans. And means are further disposed in the bore to provide for thepassage of the liquid lubricant solely through the porous rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best mode presentlycontemplated for the invention and are described hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an oiler assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the metering valve and feedsight depicted in the oiler assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an oiler assembly and wherein thelubrication points impose or draw a vacuum;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the metering valve and feedsight depicted in the oiler assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation with parts broken away and sectioned of anoiler assembly wherein the lubrication points impose pressure or vacuum;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the metering valve and feed sight depictedin the oiler assembly of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the porous rod with impervioussleeve as employed in the metering valves as detailed in FIGS. 2, 4 and6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the oiler assembly 10 of FIG. 1 carries ahollow threaded mounting shank 11 at the lower end thereof for threadedengagement at a lubrication point, not shown. The oiler assembly 10 isadapted to drop feed a generally precise amount of oil lubricant on thepoint of lubrication.

The oiler assembly 10 includes a vented reservoir 12 which contains asupply of the oil lubricant. During periods of operation, the lubricantin the reservoir 12 is fed by gravity and flows through the meteringvalve 13. A mechanical toggle shut-off valve 14 is interposed betweenthe reservoir 12 and the metering valve 13 to provide for on-off flowcontrol of the oiler assembly 10.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the metering valve 13 represents astraight configuration or orientation wherein the valve body 15 isprovided with an inlet 16 that is generally vertically or axially spacedand aligned with the outlet nozzle 17. Intermediate the inlet 16 and theoutlet nozzle 17, the body 15 includes horizontal tubular projection 18having a stepped bore 19 axially thereof with a closed remote end. Theinlet 20 to the bore 19 is threaded and opens from the body 15 and isadapted to receive the hollow threaded closure member 21. In assembledrelation, the bore 22 in the closure member 21 is aligned with thesmaller diameter portion of projection bore 19 and generally constitutesan extension thereof.

Metered flow through the valve 13 is controlled by the porous rod 23disposed in the aligned bores 19 and 22. The rod 23 is provided with animpervious outer coat or sleeve 24 over a portion of its lengthintermediate the ends thereof. The rod 23 is supported in spacedrelation from the walls of bores 19 and 22 by an O-ring seal 25sandwiched between the inner end of the closure member 21 and theopposed shoulder 26 of the stepped bore 19. The seal 25 is effective topreclude flow communication on the outside of the rod 23 between thebores 19 and 22 and thus forces the oil lubricant to pass through therod. The rod 23 is shown enlarged in FIG. 7.

In the valve 13, the inlet 16 communicates with the bore 19 through thepassage 27 of the valve body 15. The oil lubricant then passes throughthe rod 23 into the bore 22. From the bore 22, the oil lubricant flowsthrough one or more of a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes 28connecting the bore 22 and the annular groove passage 29 formed on theouter periphery of the closure member 21. In assembled relation with thevalve, the annular passage 29 of the closure member 21 is placed incommunication with the outlet nozzle 17.

A sight chamber 30 is incorporated with the valve 13 and surrounds theopening from the outlet nozzle 17. The drop feeding performance of theoiler assembly 10 can be viewed and checked through the tubular sightmember 31 secured in place by the threaded mounting shank 11.

The split ring gasket 32 at the upper end of the sight member 31 exposesthe sight chamber 30 to atmospheric pressure to provide for anequalization of pressure on opposite ends of the porous rod 23 andgravity flow through the valve 13 during periods of operation. Theequality of pressure on opposite ends of the rod 23 is disturbed uponmanual closure of valve 14 to provide for generally effective flowshut-off from the oiler assembly 10.

The porous rods 23 are generally of sintered construction having aselected density and may be fabricated of metal, plastic or glass. Thedensity of the rods 23 is selected in accordance with the feed rateneeded or desired at a particular point of lubrication. The feed rate isalso dependent on the length of the coat or sleeve 24 which establishesthe length of the path of the oil lubricant through the pores orinterstices of the rod 23. The length of the path of oil travel can varyfrom a minimum condition of no coat or sleeve 24, when the oil needsimply enter the rod 23 to pass the O-ring seal 25, to a maximumcondition where the coat or sleeve covers the entire tubular surface ofthe rod.

For applications where the length of path of oil travel is ratheraccurately determined, the coat or sleeve 24 may comprise a painted oncover to close up the pore openings at the tubular surface of the rod 23to the desired length. Alternatively, the coat or sleeve 24 may comprisea plastic tubing which is heat shrunk into position on the rod 23. Theplastic tubing coat or sleeve 24 offers the advantage of being peelablefrom the rod 23, in its entirety if necessary but more often in part, toalter the length of oil travel and thereby provide for adjustment of thefeed rate.

In the metering valve 13 of FIG. 2, the porous rod 23 is readilyremovable for purposes of making feed rate adjustment or to replace arod of given density by another of greater or less density. The rod 23is made easily accessible by removal of the threaded closure member 21and does not require a disassembly of the valve 13 from the flow line.

The oiler assembly 33 of FIG. 3 includes a vented reservoir 12 supportedon a hollow mounting block 34. The reservoir 12 of FIG. 3 is shown tosupply a pair of flow lines 35 and 36 which are connected at points oflubrication, not shown, that draw a vacuum as represented by the arrows37.

The flow line 35 as viewed on the right in FIG. 3 includes a meteringvalve 38 the inlet end of which is connected into the block 34. Tubing39 is coupled to the outlet end of the metering valve 38 and extends tothe lubrication point.

The flow line 36 as viewed on the left in FIG. 3 also includes ametering valve 38 having an inlet end connected into the mounting block34. Tubing 40 is coupled to the outlet end of the left metering valve 38and extends to its point of lubrication.

The metering valve 38 is of angle configuration or orientation with thebody 41 providing for an inlet 42 that is normal to the outlet nozzle43. The body 41 of valve 38 is provided with a generally horizontalstepped through bore 44 which terminates with the inlet 42 at the remoteend thereof. Opposite from the inlet end the bore 44 is provided with anenlarged and threaded opening 45 for receiving a closure member 21.

A porous rod 23 having a coat or sleeve 24 is disposed in the alignedbores 44 and 22 in the body 41 and closure member 21, respectively, andis supported generally centrally of the aligned bores by the O-ring seal25 sandwiched between the closure member and the opposed shoulder 46 ofthe stepped bore. The smaller diameter portion of bore 44 is effectivelysealed from the aligned bore 22 by the O-ring 25 so that oil lubricantin the bore 44 must pass through the rod 23 to reach the bore 22 in theclosure memeber 21.

Similarly as described in connection with metering valve 13 of FIGS. 1and 2, the oil lubricant from closure member bore 22 passes through oneor more circumferentially spaced holes 28 into the annular groovepassage 29 of the closure member 21 to reach the outlet nozzle 43. Theoutlet nozzle 43 also opens into a sight chamber 30 so that theperformance of the oiler assembly 33 can be visually checked. In thecase of the oiler arrangement of FIG. 3 wherein a vacuum is drawn at thelubrication point, the sight chamber 30 is sealed by full ring gaskets47 at both ends of the sight member 31.

To guard against a possible inadvertent omission of the rod 23 in theangle metering valve 38, a check valve 48 is provided at the inlet 42 ofthe valve. A check ball 49 is disposed in the enlarged inlet portion ofthrough bore 44 and is biased toward the rod 23 by the coil spring 50seated against the stop washer 51 at the inlet. Under normalcircumstance, the check valve 48 is maintained open to provide for theflow of oil lubricant into the bore 44 by the rod 23. In the event therod 23 is inadvertently omitted, the check ball 49 will be biasedagainst the angular shoulder 52 of stepped bore 44 by the spring 50 toclose the bore 44 and preclude the flow of oil and possible flooding atthe lubrication point.

As earlier indicated, the arrow 37 indicates an imposed vacuum in thetubing 39 of flow line 35. If a porous rod 23 of selected densitydelivers one drop of a given oil lubricant at an interval of about 10seconds under eight inches of mercury vacuum, a shutoff in the flow line35 is probably unnecessary as the delivery from the metering valve 38may be considered negligible after the source of vacuum is removed. Ifdesired, however, a shutoff may be interposed in the flow line 35 andmay even be necessary if faster flow conditions require a rod 23 oflesser density.

The tubing 39 of flow line 35 includes a loop 53 which in operation ispartially filled with oil. The loop 53 will trap any afterdrip and anynegligible flow after the vacuum source is removed or shut down. Thesmall added accumulation of oil in the loop 53 during downtime isadvantageous since it will be immediately available at start up when thevacuum condition is reimposed. If the point of lubrication for the flowline 35 causes a nonsteady or pulsating vacuum, such as on a vacuumpump, the oil in the loop 53 will dampen the pulsations and so preventerratic drop performance from the metering valve 38.

The tubing 40 of the flow line 36 includes a reverse bend loop 54 whichis also partially filled with oil during periods of operation. The oilin the reverse bend loop 54 will also dampen the pulsations thatotherwise might affect the drop performance of the metering valve 38.Since the height of the loop 54 exceeds the maximum fill level of thereservoir 12 in FIG. 3, the loop will further serve as an automaticshutoff when the source of vacuum is removed or shut down.

The oiler assembly 55 of FIG. 5 is intended for use on lubricationpoints, not shown, that impose either a vacuum condition, as representedby the arrows 56, or a pressure condition, as represented by the arrows57.

Oiler assembly 55 includes a closed or nonvented reservoir 58 adaptedfor mounting support by the brackets 59. The reservoir 58 supplies thebranch flow lines 60 and 61 through the main supply line 62 connected tothe underside of the reservoir. The flow lines 60 and 61 are coupled onopposite ends of a suitable hollow coupling member 63 which is in turncoupled to the supply line 62. A solenoid shutoff valve 64 is interposedin the supply line 62.

The branch lines 60 and 61 are generally identical having tubing 65interposed between the coupling member 63 and a metering valve 66. Theline extensions from the valves 66 to the lubrication points are notshown.

The metering valves 66 are shown in section in FIG. 6 and are of astraight configuration or orientation with the porous rod 23 disposedvertically. The valves 66 comprise a body 67 having a verticallyextending stepped through bore 68. The largest portion of bore 68 opensupwardly from the shoulder 69 and is adapted to threadedly receive thetubular body extension member 70. The porous rod 23 with impervious coator sleeve 24 is disposed in the through bore 71 of the body extensionmember 70 and extends past the lower end of the extension member intothe bore 68 of the main body 67. The O-ring seal 25 is sandwichedbetween the end of the extension member 70 and the opposed shoulder 69and precludes passage of oil lubricant from the bore 71 into the bore 68on the outside of the coat or sleeve 24. The oil lubricant is thusafforded passage only through the porous rod 23 from the bore 71 intothe bore 68. A nozzle outlet 72 is press fit in the lower smallestportion of bore 68 to receive the oil that has passed through the rod 23and extends downwardly into the sealed sight chamber 30 incorporatedinto the valve 66.

The reservoir 58 of the oiler assembly 55 includes a vent or pressureequalization tube 73 which extends upwardly through the bottom of thereservoir all the way to its top where a vent passage 74 from the tube73 communicates with the interior of the reservoir above the maximumfill level of the oil lubricant. When the branch lines 60 and 61 connectto lubrication points that impose a vacuum condition, such as a vacuumpump, the vent tube 73 is similarly connected to that source of vacuum.When a vacuum condition prevails in the entire oiler assembly 55 asrepresented by the arrows 56, the assembly functions like a gravity feedsystem. Similarly, when a pressure condition prevails in the entireoiler assembly, as represented by the arrows 57 and as might occur whenthe assembly is connected to a compressor unit, the assembly will alsofunction like a gravity feed system. The shutoff valve 64 is necessaryin the assembly 55 because when either vacuum or pressure are removed orshut down, feeding of lubricant by gravity would ordinarily continue asthe entire assembly becomes equalized at atmospheric pressure.

The invention thus provides an oiler assembly which can relativelyprecisely drop feed a liquid lubricant with substantial consistency overa relatively long period. Feed rates for lubricants even as low as onedrop in 5 minutes and even less are possible.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:
 1. In combination with an oiler assembly including a supply ofliquid lubricant and a flow line placing the supply in communicationwith a lubrication point, a metering valve interposed in the flow lineand comprising body means having an inlet for receiving the lubricantfrom the supply and an outlet for delivery of the lubricant, said bodymeans further having a bore with one end thereof communicating with theinlet and the other end thereof communicating with the outlet, a porousrod of sintered construction disposed in said bore between said inletand said outlet and in spaced relation from the wall thereof, animpervious coat on said rod and extending over at least a portion of thelength thereof and being determinative of the length of the flow pathfor the lubricant passing through the rod, and seal means disposed insaid bore between the coated portion of the rod and the wall of the boreto preclude the passage of the lubricant from the inlet end of the boreto the outlet end of the bore except by passage through said porous rod.2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the impervious coat onthe porous rod comprises a plastic sleeve, said sleeve being peelablefrom the inlet end portion of the rod to make lubricant feed rateadjustments.
 3. In an oiler assembly, a reservoir containing a liquidlubricant, a flow line to place the reservoir in communication with apoint of lubrication, body means interposed in the flow line and havingan inlet for receiving the lubricant from the reservoir and an outletfor delivering the lubricant, said body means further having a bore withone end thereof communicating with the inlet and the other end thereofcommunicating with the outlet, a porous rod of sintered constructiondisposed in said bore between said inlet and said outlet and in spacedrelation from the wall thereof, an impervious coat on said rod andextending over at least a portion of the length thereof and beingdeterminative of the length of the flow path for the lubricant passingthrough the rod, and seal means disposed in said bore between the coatedportion of the rod and the wall of the bore to preclude the passage ofthe lubricant from the inlet end to the outlet end of the bore except bypassage through said porous rod, said rod being of selected density toprovide for the metering of lubricant to the lubrication point.
 4. Avalve for metering a liquid lubricant, comprising body means having aninlet and an outlet, said body means further having a bore with one endthereof communicating with the inlet and the other end thereofcommunicating with the outlet, a porous rod of sintered constructiondisposed in said bore between said inlet and said outlet and in spacedrelation from the wall thereof, an impervious coat on said rod andextending over at least a portion of the length thereof and isdeterminative of the length of the flow path for the lubricant passingthrough the rod, and seal means disposed in said bore between the coatedportion of the rod and the wall of the bore to preclude the passage ofthe lubricant from the inlet end of the bore to the outlet end of thebore except by passage through said porous rod.
 5. The structure as setforth in claim 4 wherein the impervious coat on the porous rod comprisesa plastic sleeve, said sleeve being peelable from the inlet end portionof the rod to make lubricant feed rate adjustments.
 6. A valve formetering a liquid lubricant, comprising a body provided with an inletand an outlet, said body further having a bore with one end thereofcommunicating with the outlet, a porous rod of sintered constructionhaving selected density disposed in said bore between said inlet andsaid outlet and in spaced relation from the wall thereof, an impervioussleeve provided on said rod and extending over at least a portion of thelength of the rod, and sealing means disposed between the sleeve on saidrod and the wall of the bore to preclude the passage of lubricant fromthe inlet end of the bore to the outlet end of the bore except bypassage through said porous rod.
 7. The structure as set forth in claim6 wherein the inlet and outlet are generally aligned vertically and thebore containing the porous rod is disposed generally normal to the inletand outlet.
 8. The structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein the body isprovided with an opening in communication with the bore to provide forremoval and/or replacement of the porous rod, and closure means for saidopening.